Ukraine's Yushchenko Sacks Government

Yuliya Tymoshenko (file photo)
8 September 2005 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has sacked the entire government and the secretary of the National Security Council.

In a statement released in Kyiv today, Yushchenko said he has appointed Yuriy Yekhanurov, governor of the eastern Dniepropetrovsk region, as acting prime minister. Yushchenko blamed the absence of "team spirit" in dismissing the government of Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko.

The announcement comes amid allegations of high-level corruption that has led to the resignation of three top-level government officials.

Yushchenko came to power after a wave of popular protests that was partly fueled by corruption allegations against the former government. Yushchenko has said one of his priorities is to tackle corruption.